Does your law firm struggle to keep up with current innovative trends in the industry?  Do you want to educate your employees on new legal practices in a fast-paced environment?  Would you value the opportunity to network with peers across the country?  If so, attending trade shows can be a worthy investment to both your firm and your employees’ growth.

One of the first benefits of attending trade shows is the ability to visit and speak with vendors in person.  Having face to face time with exhibitors can be much more efficient than doing business over the phone or through e-mail, because vendors are readily available to discuss your needs and provide on-site demos of their products.  Many trade shows focus specifically on one area your firm needs more knowledge on, such as technology or media.  For example, the ABA TECHSHOW includes exhibitors offering the latest and greatest in legal technology products.

Educating your employees is another reason you should consider attending trade shows.  Trade shows are not only a place to exhibit products, but to show people how to use these products.  Trade shows provide a wealth of information to update your employees on current trends that are driving the industry.   Many trade shows, such as LegalTech, also offer CLE (Continuing Legal Education) programs that can be completed by attending informational sessions taught on-site.

Another valuable benefit of trade shows is simply networking.  We live in an Internet age where people rely on computers and mobile devices to find solutions.  With information available at the click of a finger, it’s often easier to consult with Google or on LinkedIn than it is to consult with peers directly.  However, consulting with someone over the Internet just isn’t quite the same as consulting with them in person– you’re more likely to forget them, and you don’t build always a solid, lasting connection this way.   Trade shows provide a meeting place for industry professionals across the country with whom you wouldn’t typically interact.

Trade shows are a fun way to get out of the office for a week and visit a new city, all while reaping the endless benefits listed above.  Does your firm plan to attend any trade shows in the coming year?  If so, tell us about it.  You can also visit the ShareFile tradeshow booth at the following legal shows: LegalTech New York 2013, LegalTech West Coast 2013, ABA Tech Show 2013, and the AALNC Conference.

Interested in learning more about ShareFile? Check out what this Texas-based law firm has to say in this ShareFile customer testimonial.